The Dons, unbeaten in their previous four matches, were soundly beaten 3-1 by a youthful Nottingham Forest team.

Striker Andy Reid, still not 18 years old, was Wimbledon's chief tormentor, scoring a brilliant second half hat trick for the Midlanders.

The game was played at a frantic pace but chances were few and far between in the first half, with neither goalkeeper being forced to make a save.

Wimbledon's best efforts were a 25-yarder from Stephen O'Flynn which flew just wide and, just before half-time Neil Jenkins had an effort deflected for a corner.

But Forest dominated from the kick-off in the second half and Reid provided two moments of magic in the space of three minutes.

First he knocked the ball past keeper Shane Gore before following up to score.

Then he unleashed a left footed drive from 25 yards which sailed into the top hand corner of Gore's net.

Wimbledon posed little threat to the Forest goal with Scottish under 21 call-up Chris Doig having an outstanding game in the visitors' defence.

It took 75 minutes for them to get their first shot on target when Anton Innocent's drive was scrambled away for a corner by Stephen Collis. The resulting corner caused chaos in the Forest box and Russell Williamson fired home.

O'Flynn fired another long range effort just wide but any hopes of Wimbledon securing a point were shattered when Reid struck again in the last minute.

Wimbledon: Shane Gore, Mehment Unal, Simon Mensing, Russell Williamson, Samuel Okikiolu, Rob Gier, Anton Innocent, Alex Tapp, Leigh Hinds, Stephen O'Flynn, Neil Jenkins.

Forest: Stephen Collis, John Thompson, Keith Foy, Jermaine Jenas, Kevin Dawson, Chris Doig, Matt Turner, Gareth Williams, Andrew Reid, Niall McNamara, Stuart Maynard.